Leseprobe "Atkinson, William Walker: The Kybalion" |

INTRODUCTION

We take great
pleasure in presenting to the attention of students and investigators
of the Secret Doctrines this little work based upon the world-old
Hermetic Teachings. There has been so little written upon this
subject, not withstanding the countless references to the Teachings
in the many works upon occultism, that the many earnest searchers
after the Arcane Truths will doubtless welcome the appearance of this
present volume.

The purpose of this
work is not the enunciation of any special philosophy or doctrine,
but rather is to give to the students a statement of the Truth that
will serve to reconcile the many bits of occult knowledge that they
may have acquired, but which are apparently opposed to each other and
which often serve to discourage and disgust the beginner in the
study. Our intent is not to erect a new Temple of Knowledge, but
rather to place in the hands of the student a Master-Key with which
he may open the many inner doors in the Temple of Mystery through the
main portals he has already entered.

There is no portion
of the occult teachings possessed by the world which have been so
closely guarded as the fragments of the Hermetic Teachings which have
come down to us over the tens of centuries which have elapsed since
the lifetime of its great founder, Hermes Trismegistus, the "scribe
of the gods," who dwelt in old Egypt in the days when the
present race of men was in its infancy. Contemporary with Abraham,
and, if the legends be true, an instructor of that venerable sage,
Hermes was, and is, the Great Central Sun of Occultism, whose rays
have served to illumine the countless teachings which have been
promulgated since his time. All the fundamental and basic teachings
embedded in the esoteric teachings of every race may be traced back
to Hermes. Even the most ancient teachings of India undoubtedly have
their roots in the original Hermetic Teachings.

From the land of the
Ganges many advanced occultists wandered to the land of Egypt, and
sat at the feet of the Master. From him they obtained the Master-Key
which explained and reconciled their divergent views, and thus the
Secret Doctrine was firmly established. From other lands also came
the learned ones, all of whom regarded Hermes as the Master of
Masters, and his influence was so great that in spite of the many
wanderings from the path on the part of the centuries of teachers in
these different lands, there may still be found a certain basic
resemblance and correspondence which underlies the many and often
quite divergent theories entertained and taught by the occultists of
these different lands today. The student of Comparative Religions
will be able to perceive the influence of the Hermetic Teachings in
every religion worthy of the name, now known to man, whether it be a
dead religion or one in full vigor in our own times. There is always
certain correspondence in spite of the contradictory features, and
the Hermetic Teachings act as the Great Reconciler.

The lifework of
Hermes seems to have been in the direction of planting the great
Seed-Truth which has grown and blossomed in so many strange forms,
rather than to establish a school of philosophy which would dominate,
the world's thought. But, nevertheless, the original truths taught by
him have been kept intact in their original purity by a few men each
age, who, refusing great numbers of half-developed students and
followers, followed the Hermetic custom and reserved their truth for
the few who were ready to comprehend and master it. From lip to ear
the truth has been handed down among the few. There have always been
a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the
earth, who kept alive the sacred flame of the Hermetic Teachings, and
such have always been willing to use their lamps to re-light the
lesser lamps of the outside world, when the light of truth grew dim,
and clouded by reason of neglect, and when the wicks became clogged
with foreign matter. There were always a few to tend faithfully the
altar of the Truth, upon which was kept alight the Perpetual Lamp of
Wisdom. These men devoted their lives to the labor of love which the
poet has so well stated in his lines:

"O, let not the
flame die out! Cherished age after age in its dark cavern—in
its holy temples cherished. Fed by pure ministers of love—let
not the flame die out!"

These men have never
sought popular approval, nor numbers of followers. They are
indifferent to these things, for they know how few there are in each
generation who are ready for the truth, or who would recognize it if
it were presented to them. They reserve the "strong meat for
men," while others furnish the "milk for babes." They
reserve their pearls of wisdom for the few elect, who recognize their
value and who wear them in their crowns, instead of casting them
before the materialistic vulgar swine, who would trample them in the
mud and mix them with their disgusting mental food. But still these
men have never forgotten or overlooked the original teachings of
Hermes, regarding the passing on of the words of truth to those ready
to receive it, which teaching is stated in The Kybalion as follows:
"Where fall the footsteps of the Master, the ears of those ready
for his Teaching open wide." And again: "When the ears of
the student are ready to hear, then cometh the lips to fill them with
wisdom." But their customary attitude has always been strictly
in accordance with the other Hermetic aphorism, also in The Kybalion:
"The lips of Wisdom are closed, except to the ears of
Understanding."

There are those who
have criticized this attitude of the Hermetists, and who have claimed
that they did not manifest the proper spirit in their policy of
seclusion and reticence. But a moment's glance back over the pages of
history will show the wisdom of the Masters, who knew the folly of
attempting to teach to the world that which it was neither ready or
willing to receive. The Hermetists have never sought to be martyrs,
and have, instead, sat silently aside with a pitying smile on their
closed lips, while the "heathen raged noisily about them"
in their customary amusement of putting to death and torture the
honest but misguided enthusiasts who imagined that they could force
upon a race of barbarians the truth capable of being understood only
by the elect who had advanced along The Path.

And the spirit of
persecution has not as yet died out in the land. There are certain
Hermetic Teachings, which, if publicly promulgated, would bring down
upon the teachers a great cry of scorn and revilement from the
multitude, who would again raise the cry of "Crucify! Crucify."

In this little work
we have endeavored to give you an idea of the fundamental teachings
of The Kybalion, striving to give you the working Principles, leaving
you to apply therm yourselves, rather than attempting to work out the
teaching in detail. If you are a true student, you will be able to
work out and apply these Principles—if not, then you must
develop yourself into one, for otherwise the Hermetic Teachings will
be as "words, words, words" to you.

THE THREE INITIATES.

THE HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY

"The lips of
wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding"—The
Kybalion.

From old Egypt have
come the fundamental esoteric and occult teachings which have so
strongly influenced the philosophies of all races, nations and
peoples, for several thousand years. Egypt, the home of the Pyramids
and the Sphinx, was the birthplace of the Hidden Wisdom and Mystic
Teachings. From her Secret Doctrine all nations have borrowed. India,
Persia, Chaldea, Medea, China, Japan, Assyria, ancient Greece and
Rome, and other ancient countries partook liberally at the feast of
knowledge which the Hierophants and Masters of the Land of Isis so
freely provided for those who came prepared to partake of the great
store of Mystic and Occult Lore which the masterminds of that ancient
land had gathered together.

In ancient Egypt
dwelt the great Adepts and Masters who have never been surpassed, and
who seldom have been equaled, during the centuries that have taken
their processional flight since the days of the Great Hermes. In
Egypt was located the Great Lodge of Lodges of the Mystics. At the
doors of her Temples entered the Neophytes who afterward, as
Hierophants, Adepts, and Masters, traveled to the four corners of the
earth, carrying with them the precious knowledge which they were
ready, anxious, and willing to pass on to those who were ready to
receive the same. All students of the Occult recognize the debt that
they owe to these venerable Masters of that ancient land.

But among these
great Masters of Ancient Egypt there once dwelt one of whom Masters
hailed as "The Master of Masters." This man, if "man"
indeed he was, dwelt in Egypt in the earliest days. He was known as
Hermes Trismegistus. He was the father of the Occult Wisdom; the
founder of Astrology; the discoverer of Alchemy. The details of his
life story are lost to history, owing to the lapse of the years,
though several of the ancient countries disputed with each other in
their claims to the honor of having furnished his birthplace—and
this thousands of years ago. The date of his sojourn in Egypt, in
that his last incarnation on this planet, is not now known, but it
has been fixed at the early days of the oldest dynasties of
Egypt—long before the days of Moses. The best authorities
regard him as a contemporary of Abraham, and some of the Jewish
traditions go so far as to claim that Abraham acquired a portion of
his mystic knowledge from Hermes himself.

As the years rolled
by after his passing from this plane of life (tradition recording
that he lived three hundred years in the flesh), the Egyptians
deified Hermes, and made him one of their gods, under the name of
Thoth. Years after, the people of Ancient Greece also made him one of
their many gods—calling him "Hermes, the god of Wisdom."
The Egyptians revered his memory for many centuries-yes, tens of
centuries— calling him "the Scribe of the Gods," and
bestowing upon him, distinctively, his ancient title, "Trismegistus,"
which means "the thrice-great"; "the great-great";
"the greatest-great"; etc. In all the ancient lands, the
name of Hermes Trismegistus was revered, the name being synonymous
with the "Fount of Wisdom."

Even to this day, we
use the term "hermetic" in the sense of "secret";
"sealed so that nothing can escape"; etc., and this by
reason of the fact that the followers of Hermes always observed the
principle of secrecy in their teachings. They did not believe in
"casting pearls before swine," but rather held to the
teaching "milk for babes"; "meat for strong men,"
both of which maxims are familiar to readers of the Christian
scriptures, but both of which had been used by the Egyptians for
centuries before the Christian era.

And this policy of
careful dissemination of the truth has always characterized the
Hermetics, even unto the present day. The Hermetic Teachings are to
be found in all lands, among all religions, but never identified with
any particular country, nor with any particular religious sect. This
because of the warning of the ancient teachers against allowing the
Secret Doctrine to become crystallized into a creed. The wisdom of
this caution is apparent to all students of history. The ancient
occultism of India and Persia degenerated, and was largely lost,
owing to the fact that the teachers became priests, and so mixed
theology with the philosophy, the result being that the occultism of
India and Persia has been gradually lost amidst the mass of religious
superstition, cults, creeds and "gods." So it was with
Ancient Greece and Rome. So it was with the Hermetic Teachings of the
Gnostics and Early Christians, which were lost at the time of
Constantine, whose iron hand smothered philosophy with the blanket of
theology, losing to the Christian Church that which was its very
essence and spirit, and causing it to grope throughout several
centuries before it found the way back to its ancient faith, the
indications apparent to all careful observers in this Twentieth
Century being that the Church is now struggling to get back to its
ancient mystic teachings.

But there were
always a few faithful souls who kept alive the Flame, tending it
carefully, and not allowing its light to become extinguished. And
thanks to these staunch hearts, and fearless minds, we have the truth
still with us. But it is not found in books, to any great extent. It
has been passed along from Master to Student; from Initiate to
Hierophant; from lip to ear. When it was written down at all, its
meaning was veiled in terms of alchemy and astrology so that only
those possessing the key could read it aright. This was made
necessary in order to avoid the persecutions of the theologians of
the Middle Ages, who fought the Secret Doctrine with fire and sword;
stake, gibbet and cross. Even to this day there will be found but few
reliable books on the Hermetic Philosophy, although there are
countless references to it in many books written on various phases of
Occultism. And yet, the Hermetic Philosophy is the only Master Key
which will open all the doors of the Occult Teachings!

In the early days,
there was a compilation of certain Basic Hermetic Doctrines, passed
on from teacher to student, which was known as "THE KYBALION,"
the exact significance and meaning of the term having been lost for
several centuries. This teaching, however, is known to many to whom
it has descended, from mouth to ear, on and on throughout the
centuries. Its precepts have never been written down, or printed, so
far as we know. It was merely a collection of maxims, axioms, and
precepts, which were non-understandable to outsiders, but which were
readily understood by students, after the axioms, maxims, and
precepts had been explained and exemplified by the Hermetic Initiates
to their Neophytes. These teachings really constituted the basic
principles of "The Art of Hermetic Alchemy," which,
contrary to the general belief, dealt in the mastery of Mental
Forces, rather than Material Elements-the Transmutation of one kind
of Mental Vibrations into others, instead of the changing of one kind
of metal into another. The legends of the "Philosopher's Stone"
which would turn base metal into Gold, was an allegory relating to
Hermetic Philosophy, readily understood by all students of true
Hermeticism.

In this little book,
of which this is the First Lesson, we invite our students to examine
into the Hermetic Teachings, as set forth in THE KYBALION, and as
explained by ourselves, humble students of the Teachings, who, while
bearing the title of Initiates, are still students at the feet of
HERMES, the Master. We herein give you many of the maxims, axioms and
precepts of THE KYBALION, accompanied by explanations and
illustrations which we deem likely to render the teachings more
easily comprehended by the modern student, particularly as the
original text is purposely veiled in obscure terms.

The original maxims,
axioms, and precepts of THE KYBALION are printed herein, in italics,
the proper credit being given. Our own work is printed in the regular
way, in the body of the work. We trust that the many students to whom
we now offer this little work will derive as much benefit from the
study of its pages as have the many who have gone on before, treading
the same Path to Mastery throughout the centuries that have passed
since the times of HERMES TRISMEGISTUS—the Master of
Masters—the Great-Great. In the words of "THE KYBALION":

"Where fall
the footsteps of the Master, the ears of those

ready for his
Teaching open wide."—The Kybalion.

"When the
ears of the student are ready to hear, then cometh

the lips to
fill them with Wisdom."—The Kybalion.

So that according to
the Teachings, the passage of this book to those ready for the
instruction will attract the attention of such as are prepared to
receive the Teaching. And, likewise, when the pupil is ready to
receive the truth, then will this little book come to him, or her.
Such is The Law. The Hermetic Principle of Cause and Effect, in its
aspect of The Law of Attraction, will bring lips and ear
together—pupil and book in company. So mote it be!

THE SEVEN HERMETIC PRINCIPLES

"The Principles
of Truth are Seven; he who knows these, understandingly, possesses
the Magic Key before whose touch all the Doors of the Temple fly
open."—The Kybalion.

The Seven Hermetic
Principles, upon which the entire Hermetic Philosophy is based, are
as follows:

1. The Principle of
Mentalism. 2. The Principle of Correspondence. 3. The Principle of
Vibration. 4. The Principle of Polarity. 5. The Principle of Rhythm.
6. The Principle of Cause and Effect. 7. The Principle of Gender.

These Seven
Principles will be discussed and explained as we proceed with these
lessons. A short explanation of each, however, may as well be given
at this point.

1. The Principle of
Mentalism

"THE ALL IS
MIND; The Universe is Mental."—The Kybalion.

This Principle
embodies the truth that "All is Mind." It explains that THE
ALL (which is the Substantial Reality underlying all the outward
manifestations and appearances which we know under the terms of "The
Material Universe"; the "Phenomena of Life"; "Matter";
"Energy"; and, in short, all that is apparent to our
material senses) is SPIRIT which in itself is UNKNOWABLE and
UNDEFINABLE, but which may be considered and thought of as AN
UNIVERSAL, INFINITE, LIVING MIND. It also explains that all the
phenomenal world or universe is simply a Mental Creation of THE ALL,
subject to the Laws of Created Things, and that the universe, as a
whole, and in its parts or units, has its existence in the Mind of
THE ALL, in which Mind we "live and move and have our being."
This Principle, by establishing the Mental Nature of the Universe,
easily explains all of the varied mental and psychic phenomena that
occupy such a large portion of the public attention, and which,
without such explanation, are non-understandable and defy scientific
treatment. An understanding of this great Hermetic Principle of
Mentalism enables the individual to readily grasp the laws of the
Mental Universe, and to apply the same to his well-being and
advancement. The Hermetic Student is enabled to apply intelligently
the great Mental Laws, instead of using them in a haphazard manner.
With the Master-Key in his possession, the student may unlock the
many doors of the mental and psychic temple of knowledge, and enter
the same freely and intelligently. This Principle explains the true
nature of "Energy," "Power," and "Matter,"
and why and how all these are subordinate to the Mastery of Mind. One
of the old Hermetic Masters wrote, long ages ago: "He who grasps
the truth of the Mental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on
The Path to Mastery." And these words are as true today as at
the time they were first written. Without this Master-Key, Mastery is
impossible, and the student knocks in vain at the many doors of The
Temple.

2. The Principle of
Correspondence

"As above, so
below; as below, so above."—The Kybalion.

This Principle
embodies the truth that there is always a Correspondence between the
laws and phenomena of the various planes of Being and Life. The old
Hermetic axiom ran in these words: "As above, so below; as
below, so above." And the grasping of this Principle gives one
the means of solving many a dark paradox, and hidden secret of
Nature. There are planes beyond our knowing, but when we apply the
Principle of Correspondence to them we are able to understand much
that would otherwise be unknowable to us.